Acting together for environmental health
The Environmental Crisis is Global
Why health and environment?
Direct relationship
•  Climate change
•  Air pollution
•  Contaminated water
•  Toxic chemicals
•  Management of waste
The health sector has a moral imperative to:
“first do no harm”
And to lead by example demonstrating sustainability
while protecting human health
The health sector environmental footprint
Greenhouse gas emissions
•  NHS-England represents 25% of the public sector carbon footprint
•  U.S. health care industry represents 8% of their carbon footprint nationally
The incineration of medical waste
•  Source of dangerous air pollutants: dioxin and mercury
The use of hazardous chemicals indoors
•  Contributes to the high rates of asthma among health care workers
The huge scale of the health care sector results in unhealthy practices
• 
• 
• 
• 
Poor waste management
use of toxic chemicals
unhealthy food choices
reliance on polluting technologies
The good news
The health care sector can play a leading role in solving these problems.
Through its massive buying power and mission-driven interest in
preventing disease, the health care sector can help shift the entire
economy toward sustainable, safer products and practices.
Global Green and Healthy Hospitals (GGHH)
A worldwide community…
•  of hospitals, healthcare systems and organizations
•  dedicated to reducing the ecological footprint of healthcare operations
•  while promoting environmental and public health in their communities
GGHH Objectives
Serve as a vibrant virtual community
•  Hospitals & health systems
Chart progress
•  Achieving measurable outputs
•  Sharing best practices
•  Finding solutions to common challenges
•  Raising standards
Mobilize health care to work together
•  Improve environmental health
•  Locally and globally
GGHH Goals
NorthAmerica
4HospitalsandHealthCenters,10
HealthSystemsand3organiza>ons
represen>ngtheinterestof1462
HospitalsandHealthCareFacili>es
La#nAmerica
407HospitalsandHealth
Centers,26HealthSystems
and13Organiza>ons,
represen>ngtheinterestof
1427HospitalsandHealth
Centers
Global
1HealthSystemand3Organiza>ons
represen>ngtheinterestof1040Hospitals
Europe
19HospitalsandHealthCareFacili>es,18Health
Systemsand8Organiza>ons,represen>ngthe
interestof6527HospitalsandHealthCenters
Africa
19Hospitals,4HealthSystemsand2
Organiza>on,represen>ngtheinterestof
1185HospitalsandHealthCenters
Totals: As of May 2016, GGHH has 656 members from 37 countries
representing the interest of 20.590 Hospitals and Health Centers
HCWH Regional Offices
Strategic Partners
Asia
78Hospitalsand
HealthCareFacili>es,
6HealthSystemsand
9Organiza>ons,
represen>ngthe
interestof8211
HospitalsandHealth
Centers
Pacific
3Hospitals,14HealthSystems
and5Organiza>ons,
represen>ngtheinterestof
738HospitalsandHealth
Centers
Member Resources and Tools
Guidance Documents
-Comprehensive overview/
global perspective of each
goal
-Suggested action items and
related projects
-Strategies and tips for
implementation
-Additional resources for
learning/
research
Case Studies
•  Examples of successful
project implementation from
GGHH members
•  Process, Implementation,
Challenges
•  Connect with members
to learn more
Webinars
•  Water: Methods and Tools for
Sustainable Management and
Conservation in the Health Sector
•  Buildings : Green Design and
Construction of Hospitals
•  Ebola and Health Care Waste:
Lessons from West Africa
•  Combating Climate Change:
Health Care Leadership and the
#2020Challenge
•  Sustainable Health Care Waste
Management: Strategies and
Experiences
•  Health and Climate Change: The
Lancet Commission Report
•  Health Impacts of Energy
Choices: Opportunities for Health
Sector Leadership
New in 2016- Data forms and checklists
Health care waste
tracking tool
•  Launching in first
quarter of 2016
•  Track and visualize all
types of health care
waste and recycling
from your facility
|
Experts
Regional Contacts
Regional Community
NorthAmerica
4HospitalsandHealthCenters,10
HealthSystemsand3organiza>ons
represen>ngtheinterestof1462
HospitalsandHealthCareFacili>es
La#nAmerica
407HospitalsandHealth
Centers,26HealthSystems
and13Organiza>ons,
represen>ngtheinterestof
1427HospitalsandHealth
Centers
Global
1HealthSystemand3Organiza>ons
represen>ngtheinterestof1040Hospitals
Europe
19HospitalsandHealthCareFacili>es,18Health
Systemsand8Organiza>ons,represen>ngthe
interestof6527HospitalsandHealthCenters
Africa
19Hospitals,4HealthSystemsand2
Organiza>on,represen>ngtheinterestof
1185HospitalsandHealthCenters
Totals: As of May 2016, GGHH has 656 members from 37 countries
representing the interest of 20.590 Hospitals and Health Centers
HCWH Regional Offices
Strategic Partners
Asia
78Hospitalsand
HealthCareFacili>es,
6HealthSystemsand
9Organiza>ons,
represen>ngthe
interestof8211
HospitalsandHealth
Centers
Pacific
3Hospitals,14HealthSystems
and5Organiza>ons,
represen>ngtheinterestof
738HospitalsandHealth
Centers
|
GGHH CONNECT- Communities
Communities dedicated to each of the 10 GGHH Agenda goals
with:
-Discussion Forums
-Global Teams of Experts
-Tools and Resources
-Case Studies
-Multi-lingual capability
|
GGHH Connect- Discussions
How can I integrate
green building design
into a new hospital we
are planning?
|
GGHH Connect- Discussions
What are the most
effective strategies for
energy conservation in
hospitals?
|
GGHH Connect- Discussions
Advice on geo thermal
energy sourcing for
hospitals
Renewable energy
options in the health
sector
Sustainable hospital
operations
Joining GGHH
Health Care members
•  Hospitals
•  Health Systems
•  Health Centers
•  Health Care Organizations
AHHA Members:
www.greenhospitals.net/AHHA
For more information contact:
Nick Thorp
[email protected]